15-5047 Eastman (new) Model MD-615L LEFTY mandolin #779, vintage sunburst, vintage 2006, with hard shell case.
We believe in having lefty instruments for our sinestral constituency and at this time we have two – this MD-615 and a slightly more upgrade Gretsch MD-815. The -615 is a handsome creature, having crème-black-crème top binding, and single-ply ivoroid side and back binding, ivoroid neck and headstock binding, 6 abalone “planet style” fingerboard markers in 5 positions, an ivoroid script “Eastman” headstock logo, a two-piece ebony adjustable bridge, a nickel plated one-piece right-angle tailpiece, twin unbound open f-holes, a modified v-shape neck, and a fingerboard that ends with a French curve and three partial frets. The back is a mildly curly maple two-piece with slightly more curly maple sides and no particular grain on the back of the maple neck. Tuners are Schaller with engraved plates on the back, with pearloid buttons. The truss rod cover is ebony. This mandolin, for some reason known only to the revenants who inhabit the showroom late at night, has a tiny chip (or ding as the travelers say) on the treble f-hole. It is entirely innocuous and actually looks quite tasteful and in keeping with the instrument’s vintage character. The sound is typical Eastman – clean and clear. $1240 at our discount price, $1203 at our cash discount price.
48-4210 Eastman (new) Model MD-815L, #242, dark sunburst with golden highlights, vintage 2005, with hard shell case.
Did you know that “Dextrous” comes from the Latin word for “right?” and that the opposite of “sinistral” is “dextral?” This lefty has somewhat upgraded appointments from the MD-615L described above. It has crème-black-crème binding on top, both sides, the back, the fingerboard and the headstock (doing thin, delicate binding like this is very time consuming but it’s beautiful). The “Eastman” script logo headstock set against a polished ebony headplate hosts 8 gold-plated Schaller tuners with ivoroid buttons. The fingerboard is inlaid with 6 bright and gleaming dotmarker inlays in 5 positions; the bottom of the ebony fingerboard bears 3 partial frets and a “scoop.” The bridge is two-piece ebony and adjustable and the tailpiece is a gold-plated metal right-angle hosting an ebony tailpin. The maple on the back is considerably striped a curly, the sides are the same, there’s even a small amount of curl on the back of the one piece, more rounded than v-shaped neck. The sound is clear and clean but it is also rich and fulfilling, allowing the motivated mammal who gets to own it the feeling of being fulfilled and rich. $1560 or at our cash discount price $1513.
78-7912 C F Martin (new) J12-16TL, LEFTY acoustic jumbo body 12-string, #1286683, with hard shell case.
The Martin List for this fine jumbo, all solid wood, mahogany and spruce 12-string is quite remarkably inexpensive at only $1699 and the Martin MAP is $1249.
15-6508 Gibson LEFTY (used, 1979) ES-335TD in Vintage Sunburst, #72749030, in very good plus condition with newer Gibson brown hard shell case with the pink shroud.
It is most unusual to find (or see) a lefty Gibson electric archtop guitar. Gibson simply did not/does not make very many of them. This example would be solidly excellent condition except for some light belt buckle in the lower bass side back between waist and strap pin, one can see where the strap revolved on the pin with some small corresponding dings on the neck heel, there is overall signs of normal playing time including scrapes on the headstock, binding and wood overall, dings and scuffs; the Gibson brand sealed rectangle back tuners with the little three-leaf clover with the large tulip metal buttons show oxidation, the back of the headstock - under the serial number and above the "Made in USA" is stamped "Second" because, when it left the factory in 1979 it had a small cosmetic flaw which, today can no longer be found. The back is decorated with the "big orange pick" shape, the twin Humbucking pickups with black surrounds, a white-black-white bordered pickguard, the additional toggle switch in the treble cutaway for coil tap, the four black high-hat knobs and the three-way pickup selector. It has crème top, back and neck binding, pearloid block marker fingerboard inlays in 9 fret positions, the pearl inlaid postwar block Gibson headstock logo with Gibson crown thereunder, and a white bordered black bell-shaped truss rod cover. Everything works just fine - the truss rod, the bridge, the action, the just completed set-up it plays like perfection on toast. $2,366 or at our cash discount price $2,295.
78-7514 C F Martin Custom Shop LEFTY (used, 2007) D-28 Marquis in Madagascar Rosewood and Adirondack spruce, #1209096, in excellent plus condition with original hard shell case.
Madagascar rosewood, or Dabergia baroni, is the closest thing in appearance and tone to its sister, Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra). Originally purchased from us on 4/19/07 this is an absolutely magnificent guitar that has been maintained in excellent plus condition. Here’s what Luthier’s Mercantile (this guitar’s wood did not necessarily come from this wood supplier) says about Madagascar Rosewood (quoted verbatim): “The material that we receive for backs and sides is the variety known in wood circles there as ‘Rio’ type – because it can resemble the best figured Brazilian Rosewood in appearance and sound. This lumber is perfect tonewood for the backs and sides of steel string and classical guitars. Every piece is cut from very straight grain lumber that is entirely quartersawn and has been very well dried. Every side and back piece stays flat and stable, and every piece has incredible, crisp, bell-like tap tones. This wood has all of the best attributes of the old Brazilian Rosewood – brilliant, deep colors (red/orange, red/brown, brown, purple/brown) with intense black line patterning, clear ringing tap tone, easy to bend and work.” Because it was occasionally played, there is a slightly dulled area near the edge of the lower bass bout where the arm passes over the body. It shows tiny indications that it has, in the past, been held and played (button marks but they are so surface, a small scratch near the soundhole – nothing really). Its tuners are the burnished butterbean Martin logo open-backs; the headplate could be Madagascar but it looks like Brazilian (as Maddy is wont to be). The wood on the back is gloriously Madagascar dutifully dedicated to the Dalbergian dimension. It has a modified V-shape neck, herringbone top trim, a 1 ¾” nut width, fossil ivory nut, saddle, bridge pins and end pin, a black ebony fingerboard and bridge and a Geib style 545 series hard shell case. It looks beyond beautiful, and it sounds rather outrageous. Lefties, rejoice. $4,639 or,at our cash discount price,$4,500.
78-7047 C F Martin (new) OM-21L Lefty, #1258241, with hard shell case.
The OM is Martin’s intermediate size guitar having a 15” wide Auditorium-sized body with a long scale neck, a dovetail joint construction, made of all solid East Indian rosewood and Sitka Spruce. This one is left handed. The Martin List is $2599 and the Martin MAP is $1949.
78-7298 C F Martin (used, 1976) D-76 Bicentennial Lefty, #377256, Individual Number 1956, in natural Sitka spruce top, stained East Indian rosewood sides & back.
It is currently housed in an upgraded Geib style hard shell case. In the year 1976 C F Martin Guitar Company commemorated the nation’s Bicentennial by issuing 1,976 serial numbered instruments that had 13 star inlays in the ebony fingerboard, a spread bald eagle etched and inlaid on the headstock, twin, angled, herringbone backstripes on its three-piece rosewood back, 5 plies of black-white top purfling, two-plies of back purfling, a black plastic pickguard and herringbone soundhole rosette. It has the old style C F Martin & Co. gold decal logo with black border. We have never before seen one of these in left handed, but it was, at that time, orderable. Interesting footnote: The D-76 is the only guitar C F Martin Company ever made that has a transferable Lifetime Limited Warranty. This particular example shows normal signs of playing wear including scratches, scuffs, nicks and scrapes. There is an area of finish in front of the ebony bridge that is “pushing up” from the pressure of the strings on the bridge. The tuners are the original Grover Rotomatic nickel-plated. A strap pin has been added to the heel of the neck, treble side. The playing action is quite favorable and the sound and projection exemplary. The owner says that this guitar was sent back to the Martin factory, where it was re-topped in 1991, however, to see the guitar one would never think it – the Sitka top has oranged nicely and there is nothing about this instrument that doesn’t look original. The owner said that when he asked C F Martin Company how many they made in lefty they gave him a number like “five.” We have not asked Martin to certify that for us, but it has the rosette of truth. One thing’s for sure – there are not a whole lot of Bison Antennial Lefty D-76 Martins roaming the range. $3605 or at our cash discount price $3500.
15-6469 and 15-6468 Deering (new) Goodtime LEFTY open-back 5-string banjo, #ISI-1765 and IS-1764, each with a nicely decorated cardboard carrying box.
The Deering List is $468 but the Deering MAP and our Discount price for each of these banjos is $349. Add $56 for a lovely embroidered Deering zipper gigbag.
48-4579 Hofner (new) 1962 Reissue Violin Bass in LEFTY, #G01311 with hard shell reissue case.
The ’62 Reissue most closely resembles Mr. McCartney’s own lefty Hofner Beatle Bass. $2,268 or at our cash discount price $2,203. We also have the 1963 Reissue in LEFTY – call for pricing.
15-5673 Hofner (new) 500/1 Vintage ‘63 LEFTY Beatle Bass, #G10247, sunburst, with hard shell bullet case.
If you have always yearned to play the role of Paul McCartney in a first class Beatle Revival Band, you would have to own a lefty Hofner Beatle Bass that has staple magnet pickups, gold-capped white plastic rotary controls with the three small toggle switches between them, rosewood fretboard with 10 pearloid dotmarkers in 9 positions, black glossy white bordered headplate with the gold, script “Hofner” logo decal, black-white top and back binding, a black-white-black laminated nut with a zero fret, a black bordered pearloid heel cap and matching pearloid pickguard and a white shelf on either side of the neck heel. If that’s your goal, with just your dream and your desire this guitar will set your playing on fire. $2007 or at our cash discount price $1946.
LEFTY GUITARS, BANJOS & MANDOLINS IN STOCK AS OF EARLY AUTUMN, 2005.
All these lefties are, of course, subject to prior sale, but we do try to maintain an excellent selection of Sinestrally-Oriented fretables. If there’s a lefty you’re thinking of treating yourself to – and it’s a brand we sell – don’t hesitate to e-mail or phone and request a price for a new order and, with just a simple inquiry on our part, the waiting time.
MARTIN “LITTLE LEFTY” GUITARS.
83-3863 Mid-Missouri (new) M-2 Lefty Flat Mandolin, #4639, w/bag.
The manufacturer sets the Suggested Retail Price at $620. Contact us for actual pricing information.
83-8795 (7219) Deering (new) Boston Lefty 5-string resonator banjo, #9323, with hard shell, form-fitting case.
The Boston is a lighter weight alternative to the standard 3-ply maple rim and separate tone ring. The steel rim acts as a tone ring (“the red scarf matches your eyes”) and because of that, its sustain seems to reverberate longer. Deering List is $1553 and Deering MAP is $1195.
MARTIN “LITTLE LEFTY” GUITARS.
We have two types of new Lefty Martin "Little" guitars, both LXM acoustic only, and LXME with a built-in internal pickup which configuration can be great fun in those quiet times when you are alone and there’s no sound in the house except that incessant scratching noise from behind the new brick wall in the basement. The LXM with gigbag Lists for $379 with a Martin MAP of $259. The versatile LXME with gigbag Lists for $449 with a Martin MAP of 319. There’s also a solid spruce top version - LX1 acoustic with gigbag which Lists for $399 with a Martin Map of $279. We don’t have this in stock but it can be ordered if you wish.
88-2582 Martin (new) Acoustic-Electric Bass, Model B1E, with hard shell case.
Martin List is $1999. Martin MAP is $1,399.
83-3863 Mid-Missouri (new) M-2 Lefty Flat Mandolin 4639 W/ bag.
The manufacturer sets the Suggested Retail Price at $620. Contact us for real pricing information.
83-8795 (7219) Deering (new) Boston Lefty 5-string banjo, #9323, with hard shell form fitting case.
The Boston is a somewhat lighter weight alternative to the standard 3-ply maple rim and separate tone ring. Y'see, the steel rim acts as a tone ring and due to it the sustain seems to reverberate longer. We are pleased to say that you can phone us (or email) for our discount and cash discount pricing.
